Date of Conferral
2023
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Public Health
Advisor
Lee Caplan
Abstract
The role of circulating estrogens and the impact of lifetime exposure to multiple sources of exogenous estrogens as factors in carcinogenesis were not well understood. Research showed conflicting results when dietary phytoestrogen (PE) intake and xenoestrogen (XE) exposure occurred independently and when co-exposed. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between dietary PE intake and XE exposure and the development of estrogen-dependent cancers in an epidemiological context. The advanced model of the epidemiology triangle was the theoretical framework for the current study in which binary logistic regression was employed on secondary data from the 2003–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results indicated that dietary PEs and XEs in combination were not statistically significant (p > 0.05) predictors of development of estrogen-dependent cancers for any level of soy, bean, or bottled drinking water consumption. Co-exposure to the highest levels of bean consumption (aOR = 1.012, 95% CI [0.378, 2.712], p = 0.981) and soy consumption (aOR = 0.621, 95% CI [0.108, 3.578], p = 0.594) with bottled drinking water exposure did not yield statistically significant results. The interaction between low PE urine and low phthalate urine levels (aOR = 0.544, 95% CI [0.290, 1.020], p = 0.058) was close to being statistically significant. The exposures do not seem to be major risk factors in this population. Findings may increase the understanding of dietary estrogen exposure pathways and raise awareness of modifiable behaviors.
Recommended Citation
Bolsue, Pisita, "Association Between Dietary Phytoestrogen Intake and Xenoestrogen Exposure and Estrogen-Dependent Cancers" (2023). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 14819.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/14819
